Outboard propulsion unit mount providing for rotation in a generally transverse vertical plane



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. C. KIEKHAEFER ETAL OUTBOARD PROPULSION UNIT MOUNTPROVIDING FOR ROTATION IN A GENERALLY TRANSVERSE VERTICAL PLANE June 9.1964 Filed March 25, 1962 Attorneys June 9. 1964 E. c. KIEKHAEFER ETAL3,136,286

OUTBOARD PROPULSION UNIT MOUNT PROVIDING FOR ROTATION IN A GENERALLYTRANSVERSE VERTICAL PLANE Filed March 23, 1962 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z8INVENTOR. 37 1 ELMER c. KIEKHAEFER CHARLES F. ALEXANDER JR.

BY ROBERT A. BODA 2 24 flndrus Sidrke Attorneys June 9, 1964 OUTBOARDPROPULSION UNIT MOUNT PROVIDING FOR ROTATION IN A GENERALLY TRANSVERSEVERTICAL PLANE Filed March 23, 1962 E. C. KIEKHAEFER ETAL 5 Sheets-SheetZ5 INVENTOR. ELMER c. KIEKHAEFER CH LES F. A EXANDER JR.

OBERT A. ODA

flair-us Stark:

Attorneys June 9, 1 E. c. KIEKHAEFER ETAL 3,136,286

OUTBOARD PROPULSION UNIT MOUNT PROVIDING O ROTATION N A GENERALLYTRANSVBRSE VERTICAL ANE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ELMER C. KIEKHAEFERCHARLES E ALEXANDER JR. ROBERT A BODA BY flndrus srarke I Filed March25, 1962 Attorneys June 9, 1964 E. c. KIEKHAEFER ETAL OUTBOARDPROPULSION UNIT MOUNT PROVIDING FOR ROTATION IN A GENERALLY TRANSVERSEVERTICAL PLANE Filed March 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 k m e m x MEDA r mmW XB IEE 5 I c EM 3 55% U Mum r am a H C Y 8 w Attorneys United StatesPatent C OUTBOARD PROPULSION UNIT MOUNT PRO- VIDING FOR ROTATION IN AGENERALLY TRANSVERSE VERTICAL PLANE Elmer Carl Kiekhaefer, Winter Haven,Fla., and Charles F. Alexander, Jr., and Robert A. Boda, Oshkosh, Wis.,assignors to Kiekhaefer Corporation, Cedarburg, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Mar. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 180,282 23 Claims. (Cl. 115-41)operative or not in use. Several inboard-outboard drives are capable ofsuch rotation in a generally transverse vertical plane, but the variousstructures employed appear to include certain inadequacies. In somedrives it is even necessary to effect such rotation of the propulsionunit by manually lifting the unit which is at best very difficult andeven hazardous, especially when such rotation must be attempted frominside the boat. It is generally an object of this invention to providean improved means for rotating the propulsion unit of aninboard-outboard drive in a generally transverse vertical plane to aninverted position and including means whereby such rotation may bereadily accomplished and with relative ease from inside the boat.

According to this invention, the propulsion unit of an inboard-outboarddrive is pendantly and dirigibly suspended outboard of the watercraftfrom a support member having a portion which extends through an openingin the transom and is rotatable within the opening. Means mountedinboard of the watercraft are provided to rotate the support memberwithin the transom opening to thereby move the propulsion unit in agenerally transverse vertical plane. Means are further provided forlocking the propulsion unit in any position of its path in the notedplane.

The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best a mode for carryingout the invention as presently contemplated and set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the outboard portion of aninboard-outboard drive shown mounted on the I transom of a boat;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevation of an inboard-outboarddrive with parts broken away and sectioned to better show portions ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the propulsion FIG. 5 is a viewtaken generally on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

3,136,286 Patented June 9, 1964 FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG.4 and shows the relative positions of the threaded member and housingmember after the housing member has been unclamped and moved rearwardlyto a position disengaged from the transom and before the housing membertogether with the propulsion unit is rotated;

FIG. 7 is a view taken generally on line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and shows aswitch which is disposed in the ignition and starting circuits of theengine and shows the position of the housing member in its unclampedposition and spaced rearwardly from the switch to open the switch andrender the said engine circuits inoperative;

FIG. 8 is a view taken generally along line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 and shows the housing memberin its clamped position and in engagement with the switch disposed intheignition and starting circuits of the engine to close the switch andrender the said circuits operative;

FIG. 10 is a view taken generally on line 10-10 of FIG. 6; 4

FIG. ll-is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 and shows the relativepositions of the threaded member and housing member after the housingmember has been rotated through to place the propulsion unit, not shown,in its inverted position;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken generally on line 12-12 of FIG. 4 andshows the drive means for rotating the nut member and the lock meanswhereby the housing member together with the propulsion unit can belocked in any position of rotation;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 and shows how the threadedmember positively returns the housing member along with the propulsionunit, not shown, to the operating position;

FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 12 and shows themeans for driving the nut member, not shown, in the nonoperativeposition; and

FIG. 16 is a view with parts broken away and sectioned similar to FIG.15 and shows-the means for driving the nut member in the operativeposition.

Referring to the drawings, the inboard-outboard drive includes apropulsion unit 1 which is pendantly and dirigibly suspended outboardfrom the transom 2 of a partially shown boat or other watercraft 3. Thepropulsion unit 1 includes a propeller 4 which is driven by the engine 5mounted inboardof the boat to be propelled.

The propeller 4 of the propulsion unit is carried by the generallyhorizontal propeller shaft 6 which is driven through beveled gears 7 and8 by the generally vertical shaft 9 rotatably supported within thehousing 10 of propulsion unit 1. A pair of vertically spaced beveledgears 11 and 12, one of which is a forward gear and the other a reversegear, are mounted in suitable bearings and are freely rotatable on theupper end of shaft 9. The drive gear 13 the axis of which is disposedgenerally horizontally, drivingly engages the beveled gears 11 and 12and causes the latter to rotate in opposed directions. A clutch element14 disposed between beveled gears 11 and 12 is carried by shaft 9 and isslidable axially thereon to selectively engage gears 11 and 12 tocomplete the drive connection between the drive gear 13 and verticalshaft 9. The clutch element 14 also has an intermediate neutral positionbetween gears 11 and 12 in which case the propeller 4 is inoperative.

The drive gear 13 is driven by engine through the generally horizontaldrive connection including axially spaced and aligned shaft members 15and 16 which are connected by the double universal joint 17 disposedgenerally at the intersection of the generally transverse vertical andhorizontal planes respectively containing the swivel and tilt axes ofthe propulsion unit 1.

At the engine end, the horizontal drive shaft 15 is carried within thehub member 18 mounted on the engine flywheel 19. Shaft 15 is keyedwithin the inner hub 2%) by means of a spline connection and is freelymovable axially relative thereto. An annular cushion element 21 isinterposed between inner hub 2t and the outer hub member 18 andgenerally maintains shaft 15 in proper alignment relative to the engineshaft 22. Cushion element 21 in the hub structure serves to isolateengine vibration from the propulsion unit drive and is readily defiectable to accommodate engine movements on the resilient mounts 23.interposed between the engine 5 and the watercraft 3.

The suspension for the propulsion unit 1 includes inner and outer plates24 and 25 secured on opposed sides of transom 2 by means of a pluralityof throughbolts 26'. The outer transom plate 25 is provided with aforwardly extending cylindrical flange 27 which projects through transomopening 28 and into opening 29 in the inner transom plate 24 and definesan effective cylindrical transom opening 30.

The suspension means further includes the housing member 31 comprising aforwardly extending cylindrical portion 32 and a rearwardly extendingbell-shaped portion 33 which are separated by a partition wall 34 havingan opening 35 centrally thereof through which the horiz'ontaldrive shaft15. extends. The cylindrical housing portion 32 is slidably receivedwithin opening 30 of the outer transom plate 25 and extends forwardlybeyond the forward end of flange 27 into the watercraft. Rearwardly theopening 39 is stepped to provide an annular shoulder 36 on outer transomplate 25 which is engageable by a corresponding shoulder 37 on housingmember 31 in its forwardmost'position which is the normal operatingposition for the unit. Shoulder 36 is provided with a plurality ofradially extending spline grooves 38 which are engageable bycorresponding splines '39 and shoulder 37 to lock the housing member 31against rotation within the opening 30 when the opposed shoulders aredrawn together. Housing portion 32 is threaded forwardlybeyond the endof flange 27 of transom plate 25 andv a drive nut member 40 is threadedthereon to draw shoulders 36 and 37 together and rigidly secure or'clamp the housing member 31 with respect tothe transom. An annularstepped cover plate :1 is secured to the inner transom plate 24 andextends over the peripheral portion of nut member 40 to confine thelatter between the respective plates 24 and 41.

An intermediate gimbal ring member 42 is pivotably supported on agenerally vertical swivel axis within the bell-shaped portion 33 ofhousing 31 to provide for steering movement of the propulsion unit in agenerally horizontal plane. The bell-shaped portion 43 of the propulsionunit housing is in turn pivotably supported on a generally horizontaltransverse axis within the gimbal ring member 42 to accommodate tiltmovements of the propulsion unit'in a generally vertical plane as whenthe underwater unit strikes a submerged or floating obstruction. Thehorizontal drive connection between engine 5 and drive gear 13 extendsthrough gimbal ring member 42 andfor steering and tilt movements of thepropulsion unit the double universal joint 17 simply bendscorrespondingly and maintains the drive connection to the propulsionunit 1.

According to this invention, the propulsion unit 1 is not only pivotableon a generally vertical swivel axis and a generally horizontaltransverse tilt axis, but is additionally rotatable on a generallyhorizontal axis extending fore-and-aft and coinciding generally with theaxis of drive shaft 15 for movement in a transverse vertical plane toeifect inversion of the propulsion unit.

To move the propulsion unit 1 in a transverse vertical plane andthereby. effect inversion of the propulsion unit,

. it is first necessary to move the housing member 31 together with thepropulsion unit rearwardly with respect to opening 30 in transom plate25 from the normal operating position shown in FIG. 5 to the positionshown in PEG. 10 wherein shoulder 37 on the housing member 31 isdisengaged and moved rearwardly from shoulder 36 on the outer transomplate 25. The desired rearward movement of housing member 31 withinopening 30 is obtained by turning the confined drive nut 4t) in anunthreading direction. As the housing member 31 moves rearwardly thepropulsion unit drive system remains intact as the horizontal driveshaft 15 moves rearwardly and axially with the propulsion unit relativeto the inner hub member 20 carried by the engine flywheel 19.

The annular cover plate 41 is provided with a switch housing 44 whichprojects radially inwardly of the circular opening 45 in the plate andcontains an electrical safety switch 46 which is disposed in series withthe electrical ignition and starting circuits of the engine 5. In thenormal, operating position of the propulsion unit 1, the forward end ofhousing member 31 engages and maintains depressed the switch actuatingrod 47 against the bias of a spring 48, as shown in FIG. 9, holding theswitch contact rod in position to maintain the switch 46 closed and theignition and. starting circuits operative. As the housing member 31moves rearwardly for inversion of the propulsion unit, the switch rod 47is biased to open the switch 46 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 breaking boththe ignition and starting circuits of engine 5. While ordinarily aninversion of the propulsion unit should not be attempted with the engine5 running, the provision of switch 46 in the engine ignition circuitwill assure engine cutoff in the event such inversion is attempted witha running engine. With safety switch 46 disposed also in the startingcircuit of the engine, accidental starting of the engine duringinversion of the propulsion unit is also prevented.

If not otherwise prevented, the propulsion unit 1 would be free to swayback and forth in a transverse vertical plane because of wave actionafter the housing member 31 is'moved rearwardly and shoulders 36 and 37on the transom plate 25 and housing member respectively are disengaged.To prevent oscillation of the housing member 31 within opening 30 oftransom plate 25, a lug 49 projects forwardly from the forward edge ofhousing member 31 and engages an adjustable stop screw 5% threaded intothe switch housing 44 in the path of the lug to prevent rotation of thehousing member in one direction. Rotation of housing member 31 in theopposite direction is prevented by a pawl member 51 which is pivotablymounted on the threaded member 52 within a recessed portion 53 in theouter periphery of the housing member. The pawl member 51 includes anarcuate end portion 54 which is adapted to engage within a correspondingnotch 55 provided in annular cover plate 41. A spring member 56 carriedby housing member 31 engages the pawl projection 57 on the opposite sideof pivot 52 from end portion 54 and bindingly biases end portion 54 intothe notch 55 to hold housing member 31 against rotation in the notedopposed direction.

Generally rotation of the nut member 40 in an unthreading directionthrough or one-half revolution will move the housing member 31rearwardly so that shoulder 36 and 37* on transom plate 25 and thehousing member respectively are separated to positions shown generallyin FIG. 10. Nut member 4t} carries a pawl engaging member 53 inwardlyfrom the annular cover plate 41 and which includes an inwardlyprojecting lug 59. Member 58 moves from its initial position showngenerally in FIG. 4 to its pawl engaging position shown generally inFIGS. 6 and 10 during the first one-half revolution of the nut memberrequired for separation of shoulders 36 and 37. Pawl member 51 isprovided with a recess 60 which is engageable by lug 59 of member 58 asit rotates with the nut member 40 in the unthreading direction to liftthe pawl member out of the cover plate notch 55 against the bias of pawlspring 56. The opposed ends of recess 60 constitute shoulders 61 and 62disposed on opposite sides of pivot 52 and being selectively engageableby the corresponding sides of lug 59 as is more fully describedhereinafter.

After the pawl member 51 is lifted out of the cover plate notch 55 bymember 58, the lug 59 engages the lift shoulder 61 of the pawl memberwith continued rotation of nut member 40. After engagement between lug59 and lift shoulder 61, the pawl member 51 rotates with the nut member40 and carries with it the housing member 31 together with thepropulsion unit 1 as the nut member is rotated further in theunthreading direction. The propulsion unit 1 is thereby rotated in agenerally transverse vertical plane from its operating position to itsfully inverted position as shown in FIG. 3. When the propulsion unit 1has reached its fully inverted position, the stop lug 63 projectingforwardly from the forward edge of housing member 31 engages the switchhousing 44 on the side 64 opposite from stop screw 56 as shown in FIG.11 to prevent further rotation of the nut member 40, housing member 31and the propulsion unit. Since substantially one-half revolution of nutmember 40 is required to separate the propulsion unit and supporthousing 31 from transom plate 25, and another one-half revolution isrequired to carry the propulsion unit to its inverted position, it isevident that the complete inversion process requires substantially onefull revolution of the nut member.

It is contemplated that inversion of the propulsion unit will only beeffected when the drive system is in neutral and clutch element 14 isdisposed intermediate bevel gears 11 and 12. Thus, as the propulsionunit is rotated for inversion of the unit, the bevel gears 11 and 12will freely rotate on drive gear 13 which will remain generallystationary because of the frictional resistance in the engine drive. Inthe event, however, that inversion of the propulsion unit is attemptedin gear with clutch element 14 engaging either gear 11 or 12, thevertical drive shaft 9, propeller shaft 6 and the propeller 4 willrotate correspondingly during inversion as the bevel gears 11 and 12rotate on the generally stationary drive gear 13.

When it is desired to return the propulsion unit 1 to its operatingposition from the inverted position, nut member 40 is rotated in theopposed or threading direction. During initial movement of the nutmember 40 in .the threading direction, the lug 59 on the pawl engagingmember 58 moves relative to the pawl member 51 in the pawl recess 60until the lug 59 engages with shoulder 62 of the pawl member. As the lug59 moves away from lift shoulder 61, the pawl member 51 is pivoted underthe influence of spring 56 until the pawl end portion 54 engages thesurface 65 which defines opening 45 in cover plate 41. With the pawlmember 51 pivoted into bearing engagement with cover plate surface 65,the lug 59 solidly engages shoulder 62 of the pawl member and uponfurther rotation of the nut member 40 in the threading direction thepawl member is positively pulled along by the lug to rotate the housingmember 31 and thereby return the propulsion unit 1 to its operatingposition.

As the propulsion unit 1 approaches the operating position, the forcesacting on the pawl member 51 causing the same to pivot into bearingengagement with cover plate surface 65, namely, the pull of lug 59 onshoulder 62 and the biasing pressure of spring 56, also cause the pawlmember end portion to enter the cover plate notch 55 as the pawl memberreturns to its initial position. As

. 6 the pawl member pivots and the pawl end portion 54 approaches thebottom of notch 55, shoulder 62 is carried to a position clear of lug 59to effect a disengagement between the pawl member 51 and the pawlengaging member 58. At the instant of disengagement between the pawlmember 51 and the pawl engaging member 58, contact is imminent betweenthe guide lug 49 on housing member 31 and the stop screw 5%) on switchhousing 44. From the position of imminent contact, the weight andmomentum of the propulsion unit are relied upon to rotate housing member31 to effect contact between guide lug 49 and the stop screw 50 and tocarry the pawl member end portion 54 deeper into notch 55. Thereafterthe propulsion unit 1 is held against movement in a transverse planebetween the engagement of lug 49 and stop screw 50 and the bindingaction of the pawl member 51 within the cover plate notch 55. Aftermovement of the propulsion unit 1 and housing member 31 is interruptedby contact of lug 49 with stop screw 50, continued rotation of theconfined nut member 40 in the threading direction draws the housingmember together with the propulsion unit toward the transom to re-engageshoulders 36 and 37 on the outer transom plate 25 and housing member 31respectively. Stop screw 50 is of course properly adjusted to assurethat the propulsion unit will return to its normal operating positionand that the radial splines 39 on the housing member shoulder 37 willcorrectly align with the corresponding spline grooves 38 on transomplate shoulder 36.

The invention further contemplates means for operating the nut member 40from inside the watercraft to move the propulsion unit 1 in thetransverse vertical plane and lock means for securing the propulsionunit at any desired location in its path of movement within the statedplane.

To accomplish these objectives, the periphery of nut member 40 isprovided with gear teeth 66 which are adapted to mesh with the worm 67rotatably disposed within a cylindrical housing 68 supported in agenerally vertical position by the inner transom plate 24. The worm 67includes an upwardly extending shaft portion 69 rotatably supported inthe cover member 70 of housing 68. Shaft portion 69 extends upwardlythrough the lock housing 71 secured on cover member 70 and adjacent theupper end thereof carries a pair of vertically spaced cross pins 72 and73 which extend radially through shaft portion 69 and are disposedgenerally normal to each other; The upper end of shaft portion 69 isadapted to receive the hollow lower end portion of a crank member 74,shown only in part in FIGS. 15 and 16. The lower end portion of crankmember 74 fits onto the end of shaft portion 69 and is provided withopposed axially extending slots 75 which open downwardly and are adaptedto receive the opposed ends of the upper cross pin 72 so that crankingtorque can be applied selectively in either direction to worm 67 torotate the nut member 40 and thereby raise and lower the propulsion unit1 in a transverse vertical plane.

Beneath cross pin 72, shaft portion 69 carries an axially movable locksleeve 76 which is adapted to selectively lock the worm 67 againstrotation and thereby secure and hold the propulsion unit 1 in anydesired position in its path in the transverse vertical plane. The lowerend of lock sleeve 76 is provided with a plurality of radially outwardlyextending teeth 77 which are adapted to be received in correspondingslots 78 extending outwardly from opening 79 in the lock housing 71through which shaft portion 69 extends. The upper end of the lock sleeve76 is provided with opposed axially extending slots 80 which openupwardly and are adapted to receive the opposed ends of the lower crosspin 73. Sleeve 76 is movable axially relative to cross pin 73 and in itsuppermost position the cross pin is engaged by the base of slots 80 tohold the lock sleeve teeth 77 in engagement with the corresponding lockhousing slots 78 to lock the amazes i7 worm 67 against rotation. A coilspring 81 is disposed around shaft portion 69 between the Worm housingcover member 70 and lock sleeve 76 in chamber 82 of the lock housing 71and serves to bias the lock sleeve into the locked position.

To unlock the shaft portion 69 from the lock housing 71 and therebyrender worm 67 operable in either direction to drive nut member 40, thecrank member 74 is placed in position on the end of shaft portion 69 andthe lower end thereof engages with the upper end of the lock sleeve 76.The crank member '74 is then pushed axially downwardly to move sleeve 76correspondingly against the bias of coil spring 81 and thereby move thelock sleeve teeth 77 out of engagement with the lock housing slots 73and into the lock'housing chamber 82 as shown in FIG. 16. With the locksleeve teeth 77 disengaged from the corresponding slots 78, the sleeve76 and shaft portion 69 are free to be rotated by the crank member 74 toactuate the worm 67. 7

When it is desired to again lock the propulsion unit in a givenposition, downward pressure on crank member '74 is relieved so the coilspring 81 can again bias the lock sleeve 76 upwardly into the lockedposition with the lock sleeve teeth 77 in engagement with the lockhousing slots 73. In the event teeth 77 and slots 78 are not properlyaligned to effect re-engagement, it may be necessary to rotatably backoff or advance the sleeve 76 a slight amount by means of the crankmember 74. After the sleeve 76 is locked relative to the lock housing71, crank member 74 can be removed if desired.

The invention thus contemplates an improved mount for the outboard driveor propulsion unit of an inboardoutboard drive providing for rotation ofthe propulsion unit in a generally transverse vertical plane. Means areprovided inboard of the watercraft for effecting such rotation whendesired where it is readily accessible to an occupant of the watercraft.The invention further contemplates means for locking the propulsion unitin any position of its path in the generally transverse vertical plane.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

' We claim:

1. In an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft having a transom, apropulsion unit disposed outboard of the watercraft, an engine mountedinboard of the watercraft for driving the propulsion unit, a supportmember carrying said propulsion unit rearwardly thereof and including acylindrical portion extending forwardly through an opening in thetransom and being adapted for rotation within said opening, a drive nutthreaded upon said cylindrical portion inboard of the watercraft meansconfining the drive nut against fore-and-aft movement relative to thetransom, means engageable vw'th the drive nut to rotate the same andmove the support member longitudinally within said transom opening, saiddrive nut being rotatable in a threading direction to clamp the supportmember relative to the transom and maintain the propulsion unit in itsnormal operating position, said drive nut being rotatable in anunthreading direction to thereby unclamp the support member from thetransom, and means for rotating the unclamped support member within saidopening to thereby move the propulsion unit in a generally transversevertical plane.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the propulsion unit ismovable in a generally transverse vertical plane about the axis of saidcylindrical support member portion through one-half revolution to afully inverted position, and stop means mounted on the transomengageable by a projection on the support member to prevent movement ofthe propulsion unit beyond the inverted position.

3. The invention as set forth invclaim 1 wherein switch means disposedin the engine ignition and starting circuits is mounted on the transomand is engageable by the support member, said switch means being closedto render said circuits operative when the support member is clamped tothe transom and the propulsion unit is in its normal operating positionand open to render said circuits inoperative when the support member isun clamped from the transom.

4. In an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft having a transom, apropulsion unit disposed outboard of the watercraft, a support membercarrying said propulsion unit rearwardly thereof and including aforwardly extending cylindrical portion and a transom engaging shoulderrearwardly of said portion, said cylindrical support member portionbeing disposed in an opening through the transom and having anexteriorly threaded portion at its forward end and being adapted forrotation within said opening, a drive nut threadedly engaging saidcylindrical portion inboard of' the watercraft, means confining thedrive nut against fore-and-aft movement relative to the transomwhereupon rotation of the drive nut in a threading direction pulls thesupport member shoulder toward the transom to rigidly clamp the supportmember relative to the transom and maintain the propulsion unit in itsnormal operating position, means to rotate the drive nut in anunthreading direction and thereby move the sup port member shoulderrearwardly away from the transom to unclamp the support member from thetransom, and means for rotating the unclamped support member within saidopening to thereby move the propulsion unit in a generally transversevertical plane.

5. In an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft having a transom, apropulsion unit disposed outboard of the watercraft, an engine mountedinboard of the watercraft for driving the propulsion unit, plate meanssecured outboard of the transom and having a hollow cylindrical portionextending forwardly through the transom to define a transom opening,said plate means having an annular rearwardly facing shoulder, a supportmember pendantly and dirigibly carrying said propulsion unit rearwardlythereof and including a forwardly extending cylindrical portion and aforwardly facing shoulder engageable with the shoulder on said platemeans, said cylindrical support member portion being disposed in saidtransom opening and extending therethrough into the watercraft and beingadapted for rotation within the opening, drive means within thewatercraft and engaging the cylindrical support member portion andadapted to selectively exert a force forwardly on said support memberfor movement longitudinally to draw the opposed shoulders on the platemeans and support member together and thereby rigidly clamp the supportmember relative to the transom and maintain the propulsion unit in itsnormal operating position, said drive means being operable in theopposite direction to exert a force rearwardly to move said shouldersapart and thereby unclamp the support member from the transom, and meansinside the watercraft for rotating the unclamped support member withinsaid opening to thereby move the propulsion unit in a generallytransverse vertical plane.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein interlock means are associated withthe shoulders on the transom plate means and support member respectivelyto rotationally lock the support member relative to the transom when theforce exerting means draws the shoulders together.

7. The invention of claim 5 wherein one of the shoulders on the transomplate means and the support member is provided with radially extendingspline grooves for engagement with corresponding splines on the other of'said shoulders to rotationally lock the supportmember relative to thetransom when the force exerting means draws the shoulders together, andguide means mounted on the transom and engageable by a support memberprojection to assure proper engagement between the splines andcorresponding grooves on the respective shoulders.

8. The invention of claim wherein the portion of the cylindrical supportmember portion which projects into the watercraft is exteriorlythreaded, and the means within the watercraft for exerting a forceforwardly and rearwardly on said support member to respectively clampand unclamp said member is a drive nut threaded upon the cylindricalsupport member portion, and means substantially confining said nutagainst fore-and-aft movement relative to the transom.

9. In an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft having a transom, apropulsion unit disposed outboard of the watercraft, an engine mountedinboard of the watercraft for driving the propulsion unit, generallyhorizontal shaft means drivingly connecting the engine and thepropulsion unit, opposed inner and outer plate members secured to thetransom and a hollow cylindrical portion projecting from one of saidmembers through the transom to define a transom opening and one of saidplate members having an annular rearwardly facing shoulder, a supportmember pendantly and dirigibly carrying said propulsion unit rearwardlythereof and including a forwardly extending cylindrical portion and aforwardly facing shoulder corresponding to the shoulder on one of saidplate members, said cylindrical support member portion being disposed insaid transom opening and having an exteriorly threaded portion at itsforward end which extends into the watercraft and being adapted forrotation within the opening on the axis of the drive shaft means, adrive nut threadedly engaging the cylindrical support member portioninboardly of the watercraft, said drive nut being rotatable in athreading direction to effect clamping of the support member relative tothe transom as the opposed shoulders on the transom plate and supportmember respectively are drawn together to thereby secure the propulsionunit in its normal operating position, said drive nut beingsubstantially confined against movement fore-and-aft relative to thetransom whereupon rotation of the drive nut in an unthreading directionmoves the support member rearwardly to separate the said opposedshoulders and thereby unclamp the support member from the transom, lockmeans on the support member engaging transom mounted means torotationally lock the unclamped support member, and means inside thewatercraft for disengaging the support member lock means and rotatingthe unclamped support member within the transom opening to thereby movethe propulsion unit in a generally transverse vertical plane to asubstantially inverted position.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the lock means for rotationallylocking the unclamped support member comprises a pivotable pawl memberon the support member which bindingly engages transom mounted means toprevent rotation of the support member within the transom opening in onedirection, and a forwardly projecting lug on the support member whichengages transom mounted means to prevent rotation of the support memberin the opposite direction.

11. In an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft having a transom, apropulsion unit disposed outboard of the watercraft, an engine mountedinboard of the watercraft for driving the propulsion unit, generallyhorizontal shaft means drivingly connecting the engine and thepropulsion unit, opposed inner and outer plate members secured to thetransom and a hollow cylindrical portion projecting from one of saidmembers through the transom to define a transom opening and one of saidplate members having an annular rearwardly facing shoulder, a supportmember pendantly and dirigibly carrying said propulsion unit rearwardlythereof and including a forwardly extending cylin drical portion and aforwardly facing shoulder corresponding to the shoulder on one of saidplate members, said cylindrical support member portion being disposed insaid transom opening and having an exteriorly threaded portion at theforward end thereof which extends into the watercraft and being adaptedfor rotation within the opening on the axis of the drive shaft means, adrive nut threadedly engaging the cylindrical support member portioninboardly of the watercraft, said drive nut being rotatable in athreading direction to effect clamping of the support member relative tothe transom as the opposed shoulders on the transom plate and supportmember respectively are drawn together to thereby secure the propulsionunit in its normal operating position, means on the inner transom platemember to substantially confine the drive nut against movementfore-and-aft relative to the transom whereupon rotation of the drive nutin an unthreading direction moves the support member rearwardly toseparate the said opposed shoulders and thereby unclamp the supportmember from the transom, means projecting forwardly from the drive nutand rotating therewith, means on the support member disposed in the pathof the drive nut projecting means, said drive nut projecting meansengaging the support member means after the support member is unclampedfrom the transom and thereafter the support member together with thepropulsion unit move with the drive nut upon continued rotation of thedrive nut in the unthreading direction,

means to interrupt movement of the drive nut when the propulsion unitreaches the inverted position, drive means inside the watercraft forrotating the drive nut, and means to lock the drive means for the drivenut and thereby lock the propulsion unit in any position in its path inthe plane of rotation.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the outer periphery of the drivenut is provided with gear teeth, and the drive means for rotating thedrive nut comprises a worm in meshing engagement with the gear teeth.

13. The invention of claim 11 wherein the outer periphery of the drivenut is provided with gear teeth, and the drive means for rotating thedrive nut comprises a Worm in meshing engagement with the gear teeth andhaving a drive shaft, and the means for locking the drive meanscomprises a housing having an opening through which the worm drive shaftextends, a sleeve on said shaft and having a plurality of radiallyextending teeth at the lower extremity thereof engageable withcorresponding slots provided in the housing at said opening, stop meanson the shaft and engageable by the sleeve when the teeth engage withsaid slots, and means biasing said sleeve in the direction of said stopmeans, said sleeve being rotationally locked to the shaft and movableaxially on the shaft and being normally biased to place the teeth intoengagement with said slots to rotationally lock the shaft and its wormrelative to the housing, said shaft and its worm being rotatable todrive the drive nut only when the sleeve is moved against the pressureof said biasing means out of engagement with said slots to unlock theshaft from said housing.

14. In an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft having a transom, apropulsion unit disposed outboard of the watercraft, an engine mountedinboard of the watercraft for driving the propulsion unit, generallyhorizontal shaft means drivingly connecting the engine and thepropulsion unit, opposed inner and outer plate members secured to thetransom and a hollow cylindrical portion projecting from one of saidmembers through the transom to define a transom opening and one of saidplate members having an annular rearwardly facing shoulder, a supportmember pendantly and dirigibly carrying said propulsion unit rearwardlythereof and including a forwardly extending cylindrical portion and aforwardly facing shoulder corresponding to the shoulder on one of saidplate members, said cylindrical support member portion being disposed insaid transom opening and having an exteriorly threaded portion at itsforward end which extends into the watercraft and being adapted forrotation within the opening on the axis of the drive shaft means, adrive nut threadedly engaging the cylindrical support member portioninboardly of the watercraft, said drive nut being rotatable in athreading directionto effect clamping of the support member relative tothe transom as the opposed shoulders on the transom plate and supportmember respectively are drawn together to thereby secure the propulsionunit in its normal operating position, an annular plate member securedto the inner transom plate member and extending over the periphery ofthe drive nut to confine the drive nut against movement fore-and-aftrelative to the transom whereupon rotation of the drive nut in anunthreading direction moves the support member rearwardly to separatethe said opposed shoulders and thereby unclamp the support-member fromthe transom, pick-up means extending forwardly from the drive nut andinto the opening of said annular plate, a pawl member on the supportmember disposed in the path of the drive nut pick-up means, said pick-upmeans engaging the pawl member after the support member is unclampedfrom the transom and thereafter the support member together with thepropulsion unit move with the drive nut upon continued rotation of thedrive nut in the unthreading direction, means to interrupt movement ofthe drive nut when the propulsion unit reaches the inverted position,drive means mounted on the inner tran som plate for rotating the drivenut, and means to lock the drive means for the drive nut and beingoperable to lock the propulsion unit in any position in its path in theplane of rotation.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the pawl mem ber is pivotablysecured to the support member and is biased into binding engagement witha notch in the annular plate member toprevent oscillatory movement ofthe propulsion unit with the 'unclamped support member in one directionrelative to the transom by reason of wave motion on" the Water, and aforwardly projecting lug on the support member which engages a stopmeans on the annular plate to prevent oscillatory movement in theopposite direction.

16. The invention of claim 14 wherein the pawl member is pivotablysecured to the support member and is provided with a recess definingopposed shoulders disposed on either side of the pawl member pivot axis,spring means biasing the pawl member into engagement with a notch in thesurface defined by the opening in the annular plate member to rotatablylock the unclamped support member against movement in the unthreadingdirection of the drive not, said pawl memberrecess being engageable bythe drive nut pick-up means as the drive nut is rotated in anunthreading direction to lift the pawl member out of the notch andrender the support member rotatable with the drive nut, said drive nutpick-up means moving relative to the pawl member recess to engage thecorresponding shoulder and thereby pick up and carry the support memberwith the drive out upon continued rotation of the drive nut in anunthreading direction, said support member being movable with the drivenut to rotate the propulsion unit in a generally transverse verticalplane to an inverted position whereupon further movement of the drivenut in the unthreading direction is interrupted by means comprising astop mounted on the annular plate member and engageable by a lugprojecting from the support member, said support member together withthe propulsion unit being returnable to the initial unclamped positionby rotation of the drive nut in a threading'direction with initialthreading movement of the drive nut moving the pick-up means relative tothe pawl member recess and into engagement with the opposed shoulder andt-herebypivoting the pawl member into engagement with the annular platemember surface defined by the opening therein to cammingly confine thepawl member and provide forpositive return of the support member by thedrive nut, said pawl member being biased to re-enter the annular platemember notch as the support member approaches the initial unclampedposition and thereby moves the opposed pawl member shoulder clear of thedrive nut pick-up means to permit continued rotation of the drive nut inthe threading direction, and a second stop on said annular plate memberengageable by a second lug on said support member to positively stoprotation of the support member when the propulsion unit reaches itslowered position, said second stop engagement by the support member lugand the notch engagement by the pawl member together serving to preventoscillatory movement of the propulsion unit with the unclamped supportmember by reason of wave motion on the water, said second stop furtherserving as guide means to provide for proper engagement between theshoulders on the support member and outer transom plate respectivelywhen the drive nut is further rotated in a threading direction to clampthe support member relative to the transom and return the propulsionunit to its normal operating position.

17. The invention of claim 14- wherein switch means disposed in theengine ignition and starting circuits is mounted on the annular platemember and is engageable by the support member, said switch means beingclosed to. render said circuits operative when the support member isclamped relative to the transom and the propulsion unit 18 in its normaloperating position and open to render said circuits inoperative when thesupport member is unclamped from the transom.

18. The invention of claim 14 wherein interlock means are associatedwith the shoulders on one of the transom plate members and supportmember respectively to rotationally lock the support member relative tothe transom when the drive nut draws said shoulders together.

19. The invention of claim 14 wherein one of the shoulders on thesupport member and one of the transom plate members respectively isprovided with radially extending spline grooves for engagement withcorresponding splines on the other of said shoulders to rotationallylock the support member relative to the transom when the drive nut drawsthe shoulders together, and guide means mounted on the annular platemember and engageable by a support member projection to assure properengagement between the splines and corresponding grooves on therespective shoulders.

20. The construction of claim 17, and means to interlock said mountingmeans with the transom to prevent rotation of said mounting means whensaid propulsion unit .isin position for driving the watercraft.

21 The construction of claim 17 in which said mounting means hasa'portion adapted to extend through the transom and receiving said driveconnection, and said actuating means engages the inner end of saidmounting means portion to effect turning of the same.

22. The construction of claim 19 and means to lock said mounting meansin any angular position of rotation.

23. In an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft having a transom, apropulsion unit disposed outboard of the Watercraft, an engine mountedinboard of the watercraft for driving the propulsion unit, generallyhorizontal shaft means drivingly connecting the engine and thepropulsion unit, a support member carrying. said propulsion unitrearwardly thereof and including a forwardly extending cylindricalportion, said cylindrical portion being disposed in. an opening throughthe transom and extending into the watercraft and being adapted forrotation within said opening, a confined drive nut threadedly engagingsaid cylindrical portion inboard of the watercraft to clamp the supportmember relative to the transom and maintain the propulsion unit in itsnormal operating position, means to rotate the drive nut in anunthreading direction to effect thereby movement of the support memberlongitudinally together with the propulsion unit rearwardly away fromthe transom to unclamp the support member from the 13 transom, couplingmeans disposed between the engine and horizontal shaft means torotatably lock the engine and 14 References Citetl in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS shaft together and providing for rearwardmovement of Re. 129 Ericsson Dec 4, the horizontal shaft means with thepropulsion unit rela- 3 9 Ericsson D 21, tive to the engine when thesupport member is-unclarnped 5 1,693,590 Borgman Dec. 4, and movedrearWardly with respect to the transom; and 2,9 ,30 l ip ly means forrotating the unciarnped support member within FOREIGN PATENTS saidopening to thereby move the propulsion unit in a gen- 992 395 France J l13, erally transverse vertical plane. 340,367

Great Britain Ian. 1, 1931

1. IN AN INBOARD-OUTBOARD DRIVE FOR WATERCRAFT HAVING A TRANSOM, APROPULSION UNIT DISPOSED OUTBOARD OF THE WATERCRAFT, AN ENGINE MOUNTEDINBOARD OF THE WATERCRAFT FOR DRIVING THE PROPULSION UNIT, A SUPPORTMEMBER CARRYING SAID PROPULSION UNIT REARWARDLY THEREOF AND INCLUDING ACYLINDRICAL PORTION EXTENDING FORWARDLY THROUGH AN OPENING IN THETRANSOM AND BEING ADAPTED FOR ROTATION WITHIN SAID OPENING, A DRIVE NUTTHREADED UPON SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION INBOARD OF THE WATERCRAFT MEANSCONFINING THE DRIVE NUT AGAINST FORE-AND-AFT MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THETRANSOM, MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE DRIVE NUT TO ROTATE THE SAME AND MOVETHE SUPPORT MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN SAID TRANSOM OPENING, SAIDDRIVE NUT BEING ROTATABLE IN A THREADING DIRECTION TO CLAMP THE SUPPORTMEMBER RELATIVE TO THE TRANSOM AND MAINTAIN THE PROPULSION UNIT IN ITSNORMAL OPERATING POSITION, SAID DRIVE NUT BEING ROTATABLE IN ANUNTHREADING DIRECTION TO THEREBY UNCLAMP THE SUPPORT MEMBER FROM THETRANSOM, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING THE UNCLAMPED SUPPORT MEMBER WITHIN SAIDOPENING TO THEREBY MOVE THE PROPULSION UNIT IN A GENERALLY TRANSVERSEVERTICAL PLANE.